Former Information Minister Prof. Jonathan Moyo has sparked renewed debate on the role of political parties in Zimbabwe after asserting that “political parties are the oxygen of politics”, and calling for their mandatory registration and regulation under an Act of Parliament.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter) under the hashtag #Politics101, Moyo anchored his argument on Section 3(2)(a) of the 2013 Constitution, which establishes Zimbabwe as a multi-party democracy. He argues that this founding principle demands a structured legal framework to regulate the formation, registration, and conduct of political parties.
“Politics is not personal, it is inherently and quintessentially interpersonal,” wrote Moyo.
“A political party is the only legitimate organisational instrument of seeking or competing for state power.”
He contended that, while individuals may contest elections independently, meaningful participation in public governance depends on membership-based groups with shared interests i.e., political parties. According to Moyo, attempts to engage in politics outside party structures amount to “snake oil” pseudo-politics.
Moyo pointed out the contradiction in Zimbabwe being a constitutional multiparty democracy, yet lacking legislation to register or regulate political parties, unlike its regional and international counterparts.
“The fact that Zimbabwe is the only country in the region arguably in the world without legislative regulation of political parties is not only patently in breach of the Constitution, but also an open and dangerous threat to both the national interest and national security,” he warned.
He also dismissed the idea that political parties are a hindrance to democracy, asserting that even in one-party states like China, political power is centralized in organised membership-based structures, not personal projects.
